Bridgewater gets a slice of state efficiency award

Leaders in the city of Bridgewater are celebrating after the community was recognized at the state level for its stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

State Auditor Rob Sand announced last week that Bridgewater — a town of fewer than 200 residents — is among several Iowa communities to receive a Public Innovation and Efficiency (PIE) Award. In a nod to the program’s acronym, award recipients will also receive a pie from Sand’s office.

Launched in 2019, the PIE program is designed to help Iowa communities reduce waste and save taxpayer dollars by sharing creative, commonsense ideas to improve efficiency. Past submissions have ranged from creating new revenue streams by capturing and selling methane gas produced at landfills to adjusting heating and cooling schedules to maximize energy efficiency.

“What I’m most proud of in this is that we’re a very small town, but we’re very transparent,” Bridgewater City Clerk Mary Dunn said.

That transparency, Dunn said, includes regular communication with residents, posting meeting agendas and minutes on social media and around the community, and maintaining easy access to city employees when questions arise.

Residents also play a role in keeping costs down. Many prioritize recycling, use the community compost pile and turn off lights and unused appliances to help keep electric bills low.

Bridgewater also has many features commonly found in larger cities, Dunn added. Energy-efficient technology is used throughout city operations, and sinks and toilets are designed to conserve water.

“That’s very important for Bridgewater because we don’t have our own water or electricity — it all has to be purchased,” Dunn said.

Sand said recognizing these efforts is one of the most rewarding parts of his job, noting that small changes can add up to significant savings for local governments.

“When communities share their ideas statewide, it unlocks potential savings in the millions of dollars,” Sand said. “That’s why I’m asking the Legislature to pass a law that would make PIE a state-backed program, ensuring that every public entity in Iowa has access to these innovative ideas through an annual report compiled by the State Auditor.

“I want to congratulate the winning communities and thank all the PIE participants for making Iowa taxpayers a priority,” he added. “PIE proves that innovation and partnership can make government better for every Iowan.”

Counties receiving PIE awards were Adams, Story, Plymouth, Clayton, Louisa and Monona.

Cities honored were Beaconsfield, Guttenberg, Storm Lake, Fort Madison, Inwood, Bridgewater and Spragueville.

School districts recognized were Diagonal, Council Bluffs, South Tama, Okoboji, Allamakee, Louisa-Muscatine, Mount Ayr and Essex.